Water closet flushing apparatus with non-sweating tank



Feb. 14-, 1961 R KURKOSKE WATER CLOSET FLUSHING APPARATUS WITH NON-SWEATING TANK I Filed June 20, 1960 z Fl .5. J 1X 2 IN VEN TOR. j/ Ross/er E. Aim/mm:

ATTORNEY-T United States Patent WATER CLOSET FLUSHING APPARATUS WITH N ON-SWEATING TANK Robert E. Kurkoske, Van Nuys, Calif. (12727 Sherman Way, North Hollywood, Calif.)

Filed June 20, 1960, Ser. No. 37,371

12 Claims. (Cl. 4-19) This invention relates to flushing apparatus for water closets utilizing a flushing tank having a bottom outlet, normally closed by a valve, for delivering the contents of the tank into a closet bowl for flushing the same when the valve is opened. The general object of the invention is to provide a flushing apparatus of this general type, but wherein the tank, instead of being normally full,.is normally empty and is filled immediately preceding a flushing operation.

The basic object of the invention is to avoid the common occurrence, where high-humidity atmospheric conditions occur, of the condensation of moisture on the external surfaces of a flushing tank and the collection of this moisture into droplets which in many instances will drip from the tank onto the bathroom floor, with consequent damage to the floor or the floor covering. In many areas, it is common practice to utilize textile fabric covers for water closet tanks, to absorb the moisture and prevent such dripping. In extremely damp areas where the problem is intensified, resort has been had to drip troughs beneath the tank, to catch the drippings.

The present invention aims to eliminate the necessity for such drip-inhibiting devices, and to completely eliminate the condensation of moisture on the tank, by providing a normally empty tank having a flushing apparatus which is operative to fill the tank upon being triggered, and is then automatically operative, as soon as the tank is filled, to discharge the contents of the tank into the 'closet bowl for flushing the same.

More specifically, the invention contemplates a flushing apparatus embodying a filling inlet which is controlled by a normally closed valve, a triggering device for opening the valve and temporarily holding it open for a sufiicient length of time to accommodate the filling of the tank, a flush valve normally closing the bottom outlet in the tank, and automatic control means including a float having an operative connection with the flushing valve such that, upon the completion of the tankv filling operation, this float will open the flush valve to discharge the water from the tank into the closet bowl, will hold the valve open until the discharge has been completed, and will then etfect the reclosing of the valve when the tank is emptied.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flushing apparatus which is free from the common difficulty 'of leakage in the filling valve.

"and flushing apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view of the flushing valve and its control float mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, partially in horizontal section, taken as indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of the lower portion of the flushing valve and its control float --mechanism;

ICE

Fig. 5 is a detail of the filling valve and its opening mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified form of the filling valve and its float actuated linkage.

General description of apparatus Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown therein, as an example of one form in which the inven tion may be embodied, a flushing apparatus which, in general, comprises a tank A having a bottom outlet communicating with the flushing throat in the tail portion of a closet bowl, shown fragmentarily at B; a filling unit C including a valve for controlling the filling of the tank; a triggering apparatus D for opening the valve of the filling unit C; an overflow tube and vacuum breaker E (which may be of conventional construction); a flushing valve unit F normally closing the bottom outlet of the tank A; and a control unit G, including a float, for controlling the opening and closing of the valve F.

Reviewing the operation of the apparatus briefly in a preliminary way, the tank A is normally empty and the flushing valve F and the valve of the filling unit C are normally closed. Upon actuation of the trigger mechanism D, the filling valve of unit C is opened and held open for a period of time sufllciently to provide for elevation of the float of filling unit C to a position to where it will take over the operation of holding the filling valve open until the tank is filled to a level just below the upper end of the overflow tube of overflow unit E. At this point, a float chamber which contains the float of control unit G will be filled with water, causing the float therein to rise from a normally lowered position to a position wherein it will effect the opening of the flushing valve F, releasing a retainer means which normally holds the flushing valve closed, and permitting the hydrostatic pressure of the water in the filled tank to assist in the opening of the flush valve by the float, which will thereafter hold the flush valve open while the water is discharged from the tank, The water in the float chamber of control unit G will drain slowly therefrom through a restricted aperture in its lower end, providing a delayed closing of the flush valve after the water has been discharged from the tank, and restoring the flush valve to its normally closed condition. During the emptying of the tank, the filling valve actuating float of unit C will return to a lowered position in which it will effect the closing of the filling valve. The opening mechanism D embodies a means for temporarily holding the filling valve open until the float of the unit C has raised to its valve opening position, and, at this point, the opening mechanism D, through counterbalancing means, is automatically self-operating to release the holding connection with the filling valve, so that, when the tank is empty, the filling valve may reclose.

Detailed description Filling tank A.-The tank A may be of completely conventional construction, including a bottom 10, side walls 11, front wall 11', and an open top; and including a cover 12 normally closing such open top. In the center of the bottom 10 is an opening in which is mounted the annular valve seat unit 13 of a conventional flush valve unit which may be of the Douglas type herein illustrated. The valve seat unit 13 defines a flushing outlet indicated at 14, and has at its upper end a conventional dished valve seat flange which is sealed to the bottom 10 by a gasket 16. Unit 13 further includes a threaded tubular portion extending into the tail unit of bowl B and secured and sealed'by a lock nut and gasket assembly 15 of conventional construction.

The bowl unit B will be understood as being any stand ard or conventional flush type closet bowl with a tail portion including a flushing throat 17 and a flange 18 for supporting and securing the tank A by securing bolts 19. These are details of conventional construction and in themselves form no part of the present invention.

In the valve seat unit 13 there is also provided a weep passage 2% which provides for draining the last vestages of moisture from the bottom of the tank after the completion of a flushing operation.

Filling unit C.The filling unit C includes a conventional filling tube 21 which enters the tank through the bottom 10, being secured and sealed thereto by conventional nut and gasket means 22, and which extends to a level above the upper end of the overflow tube of unit E, where it is provided with a conventional filling valve 23 having a movable valve part terminating in a push stem 24 vertically movable with respect to the housing of the valve so as to close the valve when depressed and to permit self opening of the valve under the pressure of the water in the filling tube 21, when pressure thereon is released.

In the conventional flushing apparatus, a valve actuating float is connected to the valve and the valve stem 2 by linkage such that the rising of the float in the tank effects downward pressure against the stem 24 to close the valve when the tank has been filled to the proper level. The present invention utilizes a float 25 which may be a conventional float having a conventional stem 26, but the valve actuating linkage is revised so as to effect downward pressure against the valve closing stem 24 in response to gravity actuated movement of the float 25 to a lower limit position which is shown in full lines in Fig. 1; and the raising of the float (indicated in phantorn in Fig. 1) relaxes the pressure against stem 24 to permit the filling valve to open under the pressure of the water in filling the tube 21. This revised linkage may, as shown in Fig. 5, comprise simply a fork 27 to which the end of stem 26 is secured (as by threading into a bore in the shank of the fork, the bifurcated end of the fork being pivotally attached by a pivot 28 (Fig. to a bracket ear 23 forming part of the casing of valve 23 and rising therefrom. Pressure is transmitted from the fork 27 to the actuating stem 24 through any suitable means such as the roller 30 mounted in the furcated 'end of the fork. As the float 25 moves downwardly, 'approachingits lower limit, roller 30 will engage and press downwardly against stem 24, closing the valve.

One of the advantages provided by the invention is a positive closing of the filling valve 23 under the weight of the float 25, preventing any leakage of the filling valve 'such as commonly occurs in the conventional arrangement wherein the filling valve is held closed by the buoyant effect of the float in its raised position. In the conventional arrangement, the net buoyant effect that is available for closing the valve is the differential between the dead weight of the float and stem, etc. and its buoyancy. On the other hand, in the apparatus of this invention, the full weight of the float plus its stem and the lower end of the delivery tube 35 against ejection of a stream of water into air.

Modified form of filling valve operating linkage- Referring now to Fig. 6, the invention contemplates the utilization of a conventional valve operating linkage in a position reversed (right to left) from its conventional position, the reversed position being shown in Fig.6, and a goose-neckbend 26' being provided on-the end of a {stem 26a so that the connection of thestem to the valve linkage may be established on the opposite side of the valve from the conventional arrangement, while the float 25 is positioned in its normal or conventional position in the tank, as in Fig. 1. The linkage itself may be conventional, a somewhat different type of linkage being shown merely to illustrate the possibility of utilizing different linkages. The linkage shown comprises a walking beam 31 pivoted at 32 to a bracket portion 294 of valve 23a, anda movable valve element 33 having an integral eye 24a into which one end of the walking beam 31 extends. The other end of walking beam 31 is connected by a link 34 to the pivot fitting 27a in which the goose neck 26 is secured, the fitting 27a being pivoted at 28a to the bracket 29a. Because of the reversal in position, of the linkage with respect to the float, the operation will be reversed from the conventional operation and the lowering of the float will effect closing of the valve and vice versa.

Trigger mechanism D.-.'I he trigger mechanism 1) for opening the filling valve may utilize a conventional operating handle 36 secured on a stub shaft 37 which extends through the front wall 11 of tank A and is journalled therein. The trigger mechanism further includes a finger 38 secured to a stub shaft 39. Also secured to stub shaft 39 is a downwardly extending lever 40 which is connected by a transversely extending link 41 to a lever 42 on the inner end of the handle shaft 37. Finger 38 normally extends in a generally horizontal direction heneath the free end .of fork 27. Arcuate swinging movement of finger 38 (counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 5)- will move it upwardly against the free end of fork 27, raising the latter sufliciently to effect opening of the valve 23.

At its upward limit of movement, projecting directly upwardly, the finger 38 will engage a lug 44 formed integrally on the underside of fork 27, to limit its movement and leave it in a position from which it can readily shift back to its normal position shown in full lines in Fig. 5 when not subjected to downward pressure from .fork 27. Temporarily, following the initial opening movement, the Weight of float 25, acting with the lever- .age developed by stem 26, will press the fork 27 against the upper end of finger 38 with sufficient frictional engagement to hold the finger in the raised position until further upward movement of the stem 26 is caused by the rising of water in the tank, and thus the frictional engagement of the fork 27 against the finger 38 is released,

permitting the finger to drop back to its normal position.

This'movement back to normal position is a gravity responsive movement resulting from the weight of handle 36 acting through the linkage 38.40 tending to rotate 'stub'shaft 3S clockwise as viewed in Fig. 5.

Overflow mechanism E.-Overflow mechanism B may be wholly conventional, including an overflow tube 46 the lower end of which is secured (as by threading) into a tail part 47 of the valve seat unit 13, the tail part 47 defining an overflow passage 48 leading to the outlet 14, in accordance with conventional construction. The overflow tube 46 rises vertically from the tail part 47, its upper end open to receive overflow and being positioned somewhat (e.g. /2 inch) above the level to which .sealed to the base frame 52 and'rising therefrom, atop wall 56 substantially closing the Upper end of the easing, and has in its'si-de wall55 a door opening 57 which isnormally closed by a door or. movable valve element; 58

the upper :end of ;which,is hinged at 59 on .a horizontal ,.axis:to;.the casing .in the corneribctween front wall 55 and top wall 56 so that the lower end of ,the;- do or.;5.8

can swing laterally and upwardly into the interior of the casing 51, thus opening the valve. The door 58 is of wedge form, including a rear wall 60 which, in the closed position of the door, slopes downwardly and inwardly, the outer wall of the door being positioned in a vertical plane, seated against the valve seat defined by the inner face of easing wall 55. Thus the door tends to close and remain closed by gravity. It will be understood of course that if desired, the door 58 could be hollow instead of the solid construction shown.

To accommodate the invention to installation in conventional flush tank structures, the bottom frame 52 of valve casing 51 has secured to its under side (as by bonding) a rubber nipple 61 of frusto-conical form which seats in the dished valve seat of the outlet nipple 13, yieldingly scaling itself against the seat to provide a water tight connection.

Flush valve control unit G.Secured to the top wall 56 and rising vertically from the casing 51 is a float tube 65. The lower end of the tube 65 is sealed to the top wall 56 so as to define a float chamber 66, having a bottom defined by the valve casing wall 56, said bottom being imperforate except for a central aperture 67 of restricted area, providing for delayed drainage of water from the float chamber 66. The invention contemplates the possibility of fabricating the valve casing 51 and float tube 65 as an integral unit, by injection molding of plastic material or other equivalent fabricating technique. The upper end of the float tube 65 is open except for a spider 68 attached to said upper end, the spider 68 having a central guide portion 69 of washer form defining an aperture through which extends a float stem 70 (which may be a length of piano wire or the like). The stem 70 passes axially through a float 71 which is secured thereto. Float 71 may be of foamed cellular plastic material as indicated in Fig. 4. The lower end of stem 70 extends loosely through the restricted aperture 67 and has an eye 72 by which it is pivotally connected to a tail lever 73, the eye being linked into a slot 74 in the free end of the lever. The other end of lever 73 is secured to and projects inwardly from the door 58. In the lowered position of the float 71, its weight, imparted through stem 70. will act against the lever 73 to securely ho d the door 58 in its closed position with suflicient leverage to resist the hydrostatic pressure of the water in the tank tending to open the door, until the tank has been filled.

There is suflicient space between the outer diameter of float 71 and the inner wall of float tube 65 to provide adequate flow of water past the float to the restricted aperture 67 to a rate at least equal to the flow through the aperture 67 so as to gradually empty the chamber 66 in the final-stage of the cycle of operation. Also, sufficient spacing is provided between the inner margin of aperture 67 and the stem 70 to provide for delayed drainage of float chamber 66 at the proper rate to effect closing of the door 58 soon after the tank has been emptied.

The spider 68, between its narrow rim and its central guide portion 69, defines a plurality of inlet openings 75 (Fig. 3) which, collectively render the upper end of the tube substantially open, so as to provide for maximum rapidity of filling of chamber 66 when the water level in the tank rises above the upper end of the flow tube 65, as rapidly as the inflow into the tank from the filling unit C.

.loop extending around the overflow tube 46, and having a suitable clamping bolt 77 for tightening it.

In adjusting the valve casing and float tube during installation, the band clamp 76 may be fastened to it so as to maintain the nipple 61 compressively seated under some compression loading against its valve seat.

As a supplementary means for retaining the door 58 closed, whichmay be utilized in addition to the linkage- 72, 73, or in lieu thereof, the invention provides 'a re tainer wedge 78 which is mounted upon the lower end of stem 70, projecting therethrough, and which has respec' tive bevelled sides, one adapted to establish bracing engagement against the side wall 53 of the valve casing and the other adapted to establish wedging engagement against the inner face 60 of the door 58 when the float 71 is in its lowered position. Fig. 4 illustrates the retainer wedge 78 as a modified form of the invention. The wedge 78 is also indicated in Fig. 2, but in phantom to illustrate the wedge shaped contours of its respective ends, but it is shown in phantom in this figure to indicate it as an alternative device rather than as a part of the linkage connecting the stem 70 to the door 58 in the arrangement shown in Fig. 2.

Operation In detail, the operation of the apparatus is as follows: normally the filling valve 23 will be closed by the downward pressure of its operating linkage against its stem 24, energized by the weight of float 25 hanging freely in the air; the tank will be empty or substantially empty; and the flush valve will be closed under the weight of its float 71 acting downwardly against the lever 73 of the valve door 58. The trigger linkage D will be in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, the finger 38 extending laterally beneath the fork 27. To initiate the flushing cycle, the handle 36 is pushed downwardly, causingthe linkage to be moved rightwardly as viewed in Fig. 5, rotating the stub shaft 39 counterclockwise and swingingthe finger 38 upwardly against the fork 27 until it is stopped against the stop lug 44 in an upwardly projecting position in which it has lifted and holds the fork, the stern and the float 25 in an elevated position somewhat as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1. The float 25, thus suspended in mid air, will exert downward pressure against the upper end of finger 38 through the fork 27, with suflicient frictional engagement to hold the finger 38 in its raised position, resisting the counterbalancing load exerted by handle 36 through the linkage 41, tending to swing the finger 38 back to its lowered position. With the fork 27 thus raised, the valve is free to open under the pressure of water in the filling tube 21 and will consequently open and deliver water through the delivery tube into the antisplash cup 43, gradually filling the tank A. As the water rises around the valve casing 51 and float tube 65, it will develop hydrostatic pressure against the flush valve door 58 but the latter will remain closed under the weight of float 71 exerted through the leverage linkage 72, 73 (or by the latching efiect of retainer wedge 78 braced against the inner face 60 of the door 58).

The float 25 will be held by finger 38 in its raised position until the level of water entering the tank has risen around the float and exerted suflicient buoyant pressure thereagainst to raise it an additional distance which releases the pressure of fork 27 against the finger 38, permitting it to be returned to its normal position by the counterbalancing action of handle 36, so that it will not interfere with the return of float 25 to valveclosing position upon emptying the tank.

The water will now continue to rise over the float 25 leaving it in its upper limit position as determined by the filling valve linkage of Fig. 6 (or by other suitable limiting means) and finally the level will rise above the upper end of float tube 65 and the water will then pour into the float chamber 66, filling it rapidly (as rapidly as the further inflow of water through the filling unit C provides).

As the water rises in the float chamber 66, exerting a buoyant eflect against the float 71, the latter will rise from its normal position resting against the bottom wall 56 to an elevated position which may be determined by engagement of tail lever 73 against the top wall 56 of the valve casing (or by engagement of retainer wedge i 78 against the top wall56). The float-will stop in this position while "the water continues to rise to'the top of the chamber .66, applying full buoyancy to the float 71 for holding the door 58 in the open position. In this open position, the water will rapidly be emptied from the tank A through the valve opening 57 and thence into the outlet 14 to effect'the flushing of the closet bowl. As the level of the water in the tank is thus lowered, the water in float chamber -66 will be retained at an increasingly higher level differential over the receding level in the tank, due to the restricted drainage of the water through the aperture 67 in the bottom of chamber 66. Thus the'float 71 will be held in its fully elevated position until'a majority of the water has drained from the tank and will approach its lowered position only after the tank has been fully drained. Consequently, the float 71 will hold the door 58 in its fully open position throughout the emptying of the tank.

As the lowering level of the water column in float chamber 66 drops below the raised position of float 71, the float will gradually settle back to its lowered position, reclosing the door 58 and finally applying closing pressure thereto through the tail lever 73 to securely hold the door closed, sealing the outlet 14 during a subsequent cycle of filling operation up to the point where the water in the tank again overflows the upper end of the float tube 65 to again open the outlet 14 for another flushing operation.

Iclaim: 1. In a water closet flushing apparatus, in combination: a normally empty flushing tank having a filling inlet; a valve normally closing said outlet; a float tube rising above said valve and defining a float chamber having an opening at its upper end through which it will be filled when said tank has been filled with water to a level suflicient for flushing, and having at its lower end a restricted drain aperture for delayed draining of said chamber following the emptying of said tank; a

float in said chamber; means operative between said float and valve to efiect opening of the valve in response to rising of said float in said chamber when filled as aforesaid, and further operative upon said delayed drain- 'ing of the chamber to effect the return of said valve to its closed position when the tank has been emptied;

.and means including a normally closed inlet valve and a manually operable valve opener for opening said inlet valve for filling said tank.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve includes a valve casing having an open bottom communicating with said tank outlet and having in a side thereof lower end.

4. In a water closet flushing apparatus, in combination: a normally empty flushing tank having a bottom outlet and a filling inlet; a valve normally closing said outlet; a float tube rising above said valve and defining a float chamber having an opening at its upper end through which it will be filled when said tank has been filled with water to a level sufiicient for flushing, and having at its lower end a restricted drain aperture for delayed draining of said chamber following the emptying of said tank; a float in said chamber; a stem secured to said float and extending downwardly from the lower end thereof through said drain aperture; and means linking the lower end of 8 upon said delayed draining of the chamber, to effect the return of said valve to its closed position when the tank has been emptied and to hold it in that position during subsequent filling of the tank; and meansincluding a normally closed inlet valve and a manually operable valve opener for opening said inlet valve for filling said tank.

5. In a water closet flushing apparatus, in combination: a normally empty flushing tank having a bottom outlet and a filling inlet; a valve normally closing said outlet, said valve including a valve casing having an open bottom communicating with said tank outlet and having in a side thereof an internal vertical valve seat defining a valve opening, and a valve door hinged at its upper end to said casing and having its lower end swingable inwardly and upwardlyto open the valve; a float tube mounted on said casing and rising above said valve and defining a float chamber having an opening atits upper end through which it will be filled when said tank has been filled with water to a level sufiicient for flushing, and having at its lower end a restricted drain aperture for delayed draining of said chamber following the emptying of said tank; a float in said chamber; a stem secured to said float and extending downwardly from the lower end thereof through said drain aperture; and means lining the lower end of said stem to said door to open the valve and hold it open so long as said float is floated in said chamber, to effect opening of the valve in response to rising of said float in said chamber when filled as aforesaid, further operative upon said delayed draining of the chamber, to effect the return of said valve to its closed positionwhen the tank has been emptied and to hold it in that position during subsequent filling of the tank; and means including a normally closed inlet valve and a manually operable valve opener for opening said inlet valve for filling said tank.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said linking means comprises a tail lever secured to said door and projecting to the axis of said float stem, and a loose linking connection between said tail lever and the lower end of said stem, said linking means being operable to hold said door in its closed position under the weight of said float when said float chamber is drained.

7. In a water closet flushing apparatus, in combination: a normally empty flushing tank having a bottom outlet and a filling inlet; a valve normally closing said outlet, said valve being biased for opening movement in response to hydrostatic pressure of water in said tank; means normally holding said valve in closed position to retain water in said tank; a float tube rising above said valve and defining a float chamber having an opening at its upper end through which it will be filled when said tank has been filled with water to a level suflicient for flushing, and having at its lower end a restricted drain aperture for delayed draining of said chamber following the emptying of said tank; a float in said chamber; said holding means operatively connecting said float to said valve so as to shift it to open position in response to rising of said float in said tube when the tube is filled as aforesaid, said float being further operative upon said delayed draining of the tube, to effect the return of said valve to its closed position and to hold it in said closed position when the tank has been emptied; and means including a normally closed filling valve and a manually operable valve opener for opening said valve for filling said tank.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said last means includes a filling float for flotation in the body of flushing water in said tank; operating linkage, including a stem to one end of which said float is secured, the other end of said stem being pivoted to. said filling valve; said linkage being arranged for applying a closing force to said valve derived from the weight of said filling float multiplied by leverage applied through said stem, with said filling float suspended in mid air when the tank is empty; and manually operable means to temporarily raise said stem to effect opening of said filling valve and filling of said tank to a level sufficiently high for flotation of said filling float resulting in maintaining said filling valve open for completing the filling of the tank.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said manually operable means comprises a finger pivoted for upward swinging movement beneath said linkage to an upwardly projecting position for raising the float to a valve opening position, said finger beIng held in said upwardly projecting position by frictional engagement of its upper end by said linkage under the Weight of the suspended filling float; and means for transmitting manually applied movement to said finger, said last means being counterweighted to automatically return said finger to a lowered, inoperative position when said filling float is fioated in the body of water entering the tank.

10. In a water closet flushing apparatus, in combination: a normally empty flushing tank having a bottom outlet and a filling inlet; a valve normally closing said outlet, said valve being self-opening in response to hydro static pressure of water in said tank; a retainer normally holding said valve in closed position to retain water in said tank, said retainer being movable to a release position effecting opening movement of said valve; 3. float tube rising above said valve and defining a float chamber having an opening at its upper end through which it will be filled when said tank has been filled with water to a level sufficient for flushing, and having at its lower end a restricted drain aperture for delayed draining of said chamber following the emptying of said tank; a float in said chamber; means operatively connecting said float to said retainer so as to shift it to said release position in response to rising of said float in said chamber when filled as aforesaid, said float being further operative upon said delayed draining of the chamber, to effect the return of said valve to its closed position and the return of said retainer to its retaining position when the tank has been emptied; and means including a normally closed filling valve and a manually operable valve opener for opening said valve for filling said tank.

.11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said valve includes a valve casing having an open bottom communicating with said tank outlet and having in a side thereof an internal valve seat defining a valve opening, and a valve element arranged for seating against said seat internally of said casing and for inwardly opening movement in response to hydrostatic pressure of water in said tank against its outward face, said retainer normally engaging the inner side of said valve element with a latching action to maintain the valve closed.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11., wherein said retainer consists in a wedge movable vertically between its retaining position wherein it is wedged horizontally between said valve element and on opposite side of said valve casing, and an elevated position removed from the path of opening movement of said valve element; said connecting means comprising a stem extending downwardly through said drain aperture and connecting the lower side of said float to said wedge for moving the wedge to said elevated position upon rising of the float in said float tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 415,869 Kelly Nov. 27, 1889 2,719,304 Schultz Oct. 4, 1955 2,740,129 Braswell Apr. 3, 1956 2,908,018 Petrie Oct. 13, 1959 

